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Pulmonary aspiration following Dettol poisoning: the scope for prevention

Drug and Poisons Information Bureau, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

Julian AJH Critchley

Drug and Poisons Information Bureau, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

1 After ingestion, Dettol liquid (4.8% chloroxylenol, pine oil, isopropyl, alcohol), a common household disin fectant, can cause central nervous system depression and corrosion of the oral mucosa, larynx and the gastrointestinal tract. The main risk from Dettol poisoning is pulmonary aspiration, leading to pneu monia, adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and/or sudden cardiorespiratory arrest.

2 To determine to what extent pulmonary aspiration in Dettol poisoning could be prevented, 13 patients treated in a general teaching hospital in Hong Kong were studied. Their clinical details were compared with those of control Dettol poisoning cases without pulmonary aspiration in order to identify possible risk factors for this complication.

3 At presentation, evidence of pulmonary aspiration was present in eight of the 13 patients prior to gastric emptying, but the use of gastric lavage without adequate protection of the airways could have aggravated the problem in three. In two other patients, evidence of aspiration was only present after gastric lavage was performed. The consequences of pulmon ary aspiration were pneumonia (n=10), ARDS (n=2), acute exacerbation of asthma or chronic obstructive airway disease (n=2) and sudden cardiorespiratory arrest (n=1). Three patients with aspiration pneumo nia (n=2), ARDS (n=1) and/or sudden cardiorespira tory arrest (n=1) died.

4 Compared with the controls, the median amount of Dettol ingested was considerably larger (400 vs 150 ml), vomiting (100% vs 72.6%) and drowsiness/ confusion (69.2% vs 19.4%) occurred more often.

5 Amongst the 13 patients with Dettol poisoning and pulmonary aspiration, gastric lavage using the naso gastric tube technique without adequate production of the airways had been responsible for the occurrence or worsening of aspiration in two and three patients, respectively. Thus, gastric lavage particularly when using a nasogastric tube appeared to carry more harm than benefits in patients with Dettol poisoning. If the procedure is considered necessary, say because of the concomitant ingestion of the other poisons, the air ways must first be well protected and the orophar yngeal aspiration and lavage technique using a wide bore Jacques tube is recommended.

6 Comparison with a control group has identified other risk factors for pulmonary aspiration: the amount of Dettol ingested, the occurrence of vomiting, drowsi ness or confusion.

Key Words: Dettol • poisoning • aspiration • gastric lavage

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 15, No. 10, 843-846 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/096032719601501009


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